This five-night voyage links two of northern Germany’s great maritime centres. Starting in Travemünde, the ship heads into Lübeck Bay before sailing west towards the Fehmarn Belt and Kiel Fjord.
This is a voyage rather than a fixed itinerary. Wind, weather and sea conditions will determine the route, giving the skipper opportunities to make the best use of the conditions. Southern Denmark, smaller Baltic harbours and a night at anchor are all possibilities.
Throughout the voyage you are part of the sailing crew. You do not need previous sailing experience. The professional crew will show you what to do and how you can take part.
Voyage
Vessel
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Sail as part of the crew on a traditional sailing vessel
Explore Lübeck Bay and the western Baltic
Sail towards the islands and waters of the Fehmarn Belt
Possible harbour visits in Germany or southern Denmark
Potential overnight anchorage, depending on conditions
Travemünde stands where the River Trave meets the Baltic Sea. Its history as both a port and seaside resort makes it a good place to spend an extra day before joining the ship.
The Old Lighthouse is one of the town’s best-known landmarks and is now a maritime museum. Its viewing gallery looks across the harbour, Lübeck Bay and the Priwall peninsula. The Nordermole offers another perspective, with ferries and commercial ships passing remarkably close as they enter and leave the Trave.
If you have more time, cross the river to Priwall. The peninsula has beaches, dunes and woodland, while the four-masted barque Passat is preserved in the harbour. Passenger and vehicle ferries make it easy to combine both sides of the river on foot.
Once aboard, you will meet the professional crew and your fellow sailing guests. After the safety briefing and introduction to the ship, it is time to prepare for sea and leave the shelter of the River Trave.
Along the Way
Once clear of Travemünde, the voyage opens into Lübeck Bay. From here the skipper can shape the passage around the weather rather than follow a rigid itinerary.
The Fehmarn Belt forms the passage between the German island of Fehmarn and the Danish island of Lolland. Depending on conditions, the voyage could include a German Baltic harbour, a visit to southern Denmark or a quieter night at anchor.
As sailing crew, you can take an active role in the passage. Under instruction from the professional crew, this may include handling lines, setting and taking in sail, steering and helping with the everyday running of the ship. How much you do is up to you, but taking part is central to the experience.
There is plenty to watch beyond the ship as well. This part of the Baltic combines open water with busy commercial routes, fishing vessels, ferries and sailing craft. Coastal birdlife is a regular feature, while sightings of marine wildlife are always possible but never guaranteed.
Approaching Kiel brings another change of character. The long Kiel Fjord is a major sailing and shipping waterway, so traditional sailing vessels share the water with ferries, naval vessels, yachts and large commercial ships.
The 85-metre Laboe Naval Memorial is a conspicuous landmark on the eastern side of the fjord. Further in are Falckenstein Beach, Friedrichsort and Holtenau, where the Kiel Canal meets the fjord.
Arriving in Kiel
Reaching Kiel brings you into one of Germany’s great sailing cities. The Kiel Canal begins at Holtenau, where ships ranging from small yachts to large commercial vessels pass through the locks between the Baltic and North Sea route.
If you have an extra day before travelling home, Kiel is worth exploring from the waterfront. The Kiellinie promenade follows the fjord for several kilometres, while Holtenau offers a more historic maritime setting. The 1895 lighthouse, old harbour and Tiessenkai sit close to the canal entrance, where traditional vessels can still be found alongside the quay.
By the time you step ashore, you will have experienced several different sides of Baltic sailing: open water, working shipping routes, smaller coastal waters and one of northern Europe’s major maritime gateways. More importantly, you will have experienced them from aboard a working sailing vessel rather than simply watching from shore.
WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER
The western Baltic is relatively sheltered compared with open-ocean sailing, but it should not be mistaken for consistently calm water.
Conditions can change during a six-day passage. Sheltered coastal waters may give relatively smooth sailing, while stronger winds across Lübeck Bay, the Fehmarn Belt and more exposed sections of the route can produce a short, lively sea.
The skipper will use the forecast and actual conditions to determine each day’s route. This flexibility is one of the strengths of the voyage. A harbour visit, longer passage or night at anchor can be chosen according to the conditions rather than following a fixed schedule.
A NOTE ON VOYAGE DESCRIPTIONS
On a sailing voyage we never use the word itinerary, as skippers will always be aiming for the best and safest sailing routes for the forecast. They are as keen as you to include some of the highlights described above, but when it comes to sailing, you have to go with Mother Nature, not fight her. The description provided is based on what we think might be possible, based on past trips, or prior experience, but nothing is guaranteed on a sailing voyage. As such, the scheduled joining ports, routes, activities and/or destinations may be altered. Due to the complexities of weather systems, this may be at very short notice.
HANDS ON HOLIDAYS
Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail. For more on this, see our article ‘What is a Hands-On Sailing Holiday?’
SAILING STYLE & LIFE ON BOARD
We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation. There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on the vessel pages.
Start & End Port
Travemünde, Germany
Kiel, Germany
Kiel is a city with real maritime heritage and several historical landmarks, most notably the Kiel Canal, the world’s busiest man-made waterway. Kiel also hosts the world-famous Kiel Week (Kieler Woche), one of the largest sailing events in the world. This week-long celebration brings together sailing enthusiasts and tourists, offering concerts, markets, and cultural exhibitions.
All meals to include refreshments throughout the day
Duvet, pillow and sheets
Hand towels
What is not Included
Waterproof jackets and trousers
Alcoholic drinks but there is a bar on board
Any entry visas required
What to Bring
Suitcases take up a lot of room in a cabin, so it is better to uses soft bags in a ship. A small rucksack for going ashore is useful.
Eye of the Wind does not supply waterproof jackets and salopette type trousers. Please bring your own waterproof clothing.
A mix of warm and wind proof clothing.
Lots of thin layers is better than one thick layer in cold destinations.
In tropical countries - long sleeves and long trousers to protect you from the sun
Footwear on board needs a good grip and soft soles- the decks are wood or steel.
Ashore stout, waterproof walking boots are best if you are in remote places.
Eye of the Wind has electric sockets in all the cabins 240 V
Cameras, spare batteries, chargers if you need them
Binoculars are handy for bird watching etc.
Suntan lotion, hats, sunglasses
Dont forget any regular medication, persciption glasses and spare
Euros for bar bill
Passport, travel insurance, tickets etc
To get ashore is usually by dinghy so be prepared to get wet feet. Rubber boots or quick drying sandals - depending on the location.
The ship provides hand towels but please bring a beach towel
snorkel and mask for caribbean if you like snorkelling (travel tip: swimming goggles pack up smaller than a facemask)
Bring insect repellant for Caribbean as can get mosquitos ashore in evening (rare at anchor)
ear plugs can be handy
Electricity
All the power to your plug sockets comes from the ship's generator which runs on deisel. The less the generators have to run to top up power, the nicer it is for the guests on board and also greener for the planet. Please don't bring loads of hairdriers, electric devices to charge.
There is no internet on board whilst at sea.
Review
The Captain's style was excellent.. so skilled, authoritative but never shouty, always caring, kind, funny & interested in people. I was So impressed that the crew were majority of girls, so strong, brave, knowledgeable & keen. 20yrs ago there might have been 1 or 2 token girls in crew & now they run the ship!
Boys also wonderful of course & chef Dennis was excellent. Im old enough to be Granny to most, but no ageism, sexism or patronising attitudes so thankyou for that.
The stops on the Danish islands were good use of time. So clean, green, pretty, & v.friendly. Unfavourable wind meant we couldn't sail as much as hoped but last day we got 12 of 15 sails up. Helming a tall ship in full sail is such a privilege. Wow.!
What a beautiful experience. Memories are priceless.
Naomi - Baltic Sea Spring 2026
Hello all at Classic
The trip went very well and was a great experience.
Everything was very well done, great captain, crew and guests.
Sea shanty singing lead by Matthew from the King's Pond Shantymen!
Best wishes, Bob. Eye of the Wind, Cadiz to the Canary Islands November 2024
A fabulous adventure! Words cannot convey the experience.
John, Tortola to Bermuda
Tortola to the Azores! What a great time. Thanks to Captain Pit and the crew. An awesome adventure with awesome people!"
F Coutreau
What a wonderful, lovely, great, awesome trip we've had from Malaga to Lanzarote! I loved and enjoyed every minute.
Thanks again for this wonderful experience. I miss you guys!
Andrea
Now that was a voyage! The EYE crew - all 10 - five women and five men - embody two words:
COMPETENT and KIND
And such a beautiful ship. Thank you beyond measure
Susan
Vessel Gallery
With red sails against a blue sky, Eye of the Wind is a photogenic ship. If you have any new images we would love to see them since Eye of the Wind has only recently returned to our website.